Sorry, Dolores, but I used to linger outside your house with my granny – Kathryn
Voice Of Ireland host Kathryn Thomas has admitted she was once obsessed with Dolores O'Riordan.
The 34-year-old was a hardcore Cranberries fan and used to linger outside Dolores' plush Kerry home hoping to catch a glimpse of the singer.
Kathryn even made her poor old granny drive from Carlow to Kerry and wait with her.
Kathryn revealed: "I was such a big fan of The Cranberries.
"I didn't have the guts to tell her but when I was a teenager I went down to her house in Kerry and sat outside with my grandmother hoping to catch a glimpse of her – that's how much of a fan I was." Given her love of the band, Kathryn was starry-eyed when she first met the 42-year-old.
She said: "I was quite star-struck when I first met Dolores because I was such a big fan. But she's lovely and such a sweet person."
And Kathryn wasn't the only member of The Voice cast and crew to be overawed by the Zombie singer.
She admitted: "People were intimidated because she is such a rock goddess – poor Bressie was definitely a bit star-struck too.
"Jamelia wasn't intimidated at all and Kian had met her. So it was Bressie and me trying to play it cool around her."
OPTIMISTIC
Kathryn is optimistic that a woman will take the title of the Voice Of Ireland this year. "I'm hoping so," she told The RTE Guide.
"The men are strong this year but the women were really strong too, so we'll see."
With the Voice Of Ireland and Operation Transformation kicking off, Kathryn described her workload as "a little manic"
She added: "I think it would be better all round if the shows weren't running at the same time, it's quite Kathryn-heavy.
"But look, we have to do the shows when we do them – I really don't factor in the decision making.
HECTIC
"It just means that this time of year is pretty hectic but I can't complain."
Kathryn and her partner – restaurateur Padraig McLoughlin – will spend the New Year together in Galway.
She said: "There's about 10 of us going over, we're all staying in a hotel. It should be a great night.
"Overall, 2013 was a good year. Work was great. The low was my sister Linda moving to the States.
"But I've been back and forth to see her so that's been nice."
hnews@herald.ie